New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-29
THE SPANIARD'S PROGRESS.
POPULARITY OF THE YOUNG QUEEN Re-
GENT.


AIFoNso's BoDY MUMSuFYING IN A CAVERN
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or Tue TEBUSEl
MADRID. May o.
At no time since the,death of the Late King have
the affairs of the country borno so promising an
asE ect as at present After centuries OF Incidence
and darkness Spain at lonsth appears to have en-
tered upon new era of progress and prosperity.
| Several most remarkable measures have been in
| stituted by tho Government within the last few
| days. Thoyare of so sweeping and enlightened q
nature that they have.been the means Of Ieuniting
the dscordant clements of tho Liberal party all
the members of which desired to be associated with
Primo Minister Sagasta in the granting OF reforms
SO long demanded by the people
The frs. and most in portant of these is the estab
lishment of trial by jury, the bill for which was
passed a few DAYS ago in the Cortes by majority
of 900 The second is perhaps Of a less popular,
but yet equally important, nature. II comprises
compulsory military service for every born or nat
uralized Spaniard who has attained twenty years
OF age. Hitherto it has always been possible to
obtain exemption By the payment of sum OF
8 100; but henceforth no pecunisry recompense
will he permitted, and there will be no exemption
either in time OF peace or war except for physical
infrmity The duration of service under the new
law 10 twelve years in the Peninsula and eight In
the colonies OF these three years are to DO passed.
Gvo in the second reserve the lastclass being only
liable to be called ont one month in each year in
peace TINA This measure had always been the
net scheme of General Lopez Domngues, the
rephey of the late Marshal Serrano, and the great
est schener IN tho army. By thus bringing IL for
ward some s. hat unexpectedly, the Minister OF War.
General CassO'a, who Is the Fidus Achntes OF
Marshal Campos, has completely cut away the
ground from under the feet of DOmIngues who has
all along been considered as tho most dangerous foe
of the Ministry and oven Of tho dynasty
The third measure is moro likely to interest econ
omists than the general public Some time ago
tho utmos. indignation was aroused both a. home
and abroad by tho yarbtiary creation of IA tax OF
per cent on the coupons of the interior per cent
debt. THIS tax. which was disguised under the
title Of n stamp duty, WAS Ia direct contradiction
not only Of tho law Of 1919 but also OF the official
declaration made by Senior Camacho "a Minister OF
Finance in the Senate on June 30, 1872. Inc IN
sttution of a tax so manifsstly illegal and immoral
cravely affected tho credit Of. Spain not only ut
home but also abroad. and tho Cabinet have be-
come convinced Of the urgent necessity OF repeal
ing II. With this object tobacco monopoly has
been established and has been farned out for
period Of ten years Ito syndicate of native and
foreign bankers. assisted by tho Bank Of Spain A
company has been formed with an immense capital
and the revenues which II will ray into the
national treasury will enable the Government 10
restore Spanish credit both at homo and abroad by
repeating the Objectionable tax.
TIE Queen Regent is daily becoming more popu-
lar and the SpanIards are IN n fair way to forget
that the somewhat LONELY, simple and sad-looking
little woman, who governs them in the namo of her
baby son, is a stranger. day or two ago she was
present at review for the first time siuce the
death of her husband Dressed in very plain
black habit, and mounted on a magnificent sorrel
horse named Asturio she rode down the whole line
of Is 600 troops slightly in advance OF her staii,
which was headed by her dead husbands council
lor and friend Marshal CampoS The royal march
was played rs she passed the colors OF each corps.
she alterward took up her position noar the
Medina COei Palace and the march past took place
ths troops displaying the most enthusiastic loyalty
Her ride back to the palace Tas one long contlnaed
ovation from the crowd. Whon she passed tho
Parliament building, tho whole of tho Senate aud
Cortes were assembled on the balconies and steps
striking her horse somewhat sharply made him
sweryo from sdo Of the street 10 the other and
the splendid manner IN winch she Kept aer seat ana
control OF her steed ELECTED the most tunultuous
applause from the ord inartly silent Spanlarda -,
The Queen is mnch distressed at parting with
Cardinal Rampoa. the newly appointed Papal Sec
Court has been of tho flrmest and most iniius
entail friends of the young Queen IN per hours OF
;helr pronuncamontos, the Spaniards are still
most Intensely religious people. From Wednesday
In Holy week until EastoI obnutSt
10 he seen in The streets oil Madrid Hence :he
Cardinals Influence was OF considerable weight
especially in persuadng the Conservatives TO AVOID
any serious attacks on the Cabinet, which IN up
setting tho Ministry might also have resulted In
the fall Of the dynasty. Nor Is the Cardinal the
only friend whose departure the Queen Geplores
Connt Solms the intimate friend aud crony OF the
nrelate mas been called upon by Prince Bismarck
10 succeed Baron do Kendell as German Ambassador
In the Ouirina. Count Solms was great favorite
M the Court of Madrid and having great talent
for paintnC he has painted IN turn the PORTRAITS OF
avery member of the royal family OF Spain. Hrent
curiosity Is expressed as to the poloy which wiz
exists between tns Pope's new Secretary OF state
and Germany's ne " Ambassador to King Hnmbert
Tho celebration at the Escurial during the last
week of the fifteenth centenary OF the patron
saint of the Augustn friars, which took place WIN
considerable pOmp and ceremony. reminds me OF
curious fact which Is known, believe 10 lew PEG
nIe even In Spain The body CT the late KING - not
vet allowed 10 repOse in It's tomb Clothed only IN
a thin linen garment II lies on slab OF rock near
the monnta, IN on the sore of which the Escurlal Is
buit There IL will remain until 1t has attained all
the pecnliar properties of n mummy, and then only
| IL will be placed in its niche in that marvellous
iasper vault under the great doue OF the Escurial
! Tbntch where only TIE remains of Spanish Kings
| and of the mothers oil Kings are allowed to lie.
! Some bodies, notably that of Queen Isahell9s
prohigate father. remained on the rocky table for
| wears and years subjected TO the peculiar armos-
nhere of tho cavern. before IL was in ut state TO
| he transferred to the vault. Tho name OF TINS
chastity cavern Is tho pudridO, name which Is also
| sometimes applied to the vaults containing the
| bodies OF the Infants and Infant as of Spain.
| ---~----------------
| SUMMER BOARDING.